I found out that my Uncle Walter Stafford was a crystal grinder, in TN, before WWII. I have been looking online to find out exactly what this job involved and the only information I have been able to find gives details of making crystals for watches. Does anyone have any other information for this occupation?

Thanks,

Lee

I have been posting information on Find-A-Grave since 2008. Every vacation I visit at least one cemetery where my ancestors are buried and take pictures so I can add them to the site. Recently I occasionally am contact by someone with additional information or corrections to names or to add full dates which are not on the tombstones.

Recently I have been contacted by two people who wanted to know if I had more information on their ancestors and how I was related to some of the people I had posted to Find-A-Grave. After corresponding with them we learned that we are cousins. Both are one generation older than I am but still cousins!

It just goes to show the more places you have your information; the better the chance you will find a living relative.

My father who is 78 y/o has asked me to help him find a friend he went to school with, Pauline (Polly) Burks or any of her relatives.

She would be around the same age and was born and raised in Guntersville, Marshall Co, AL. He was also born and raised in Guntersville. He doesn't know her married name only that her and her husband moved to Fayetteville, TN and he believes they are still there today or their children and grandchildren would still live there.

Pauline's siblings are Lara Burks (married name unknown), William (Bill) Burks and George (Red) Burks.

I would really appreciate any information that anyone could provide. My father would like me to contact the local newspaper to place a front page ad for information but I thought I would try here first.

Thanks-

Lee

Recently while looking at postings on Rootsweb, I found a post for a family reunion for James White family in Monroe Co, TN. I have several James White's in my ancestry so I started corresponding with the person who posted the message. We were able to determine that the James White for the family reunion is not one of my James White family. After several more emails we found that our families are connected through other surnames and other White family lines. Since we have so many connected lines, it's only a matter of time before we find where this James White belongs. We have found so many connected lines through the Lindsey's, Maynard's, and White's that it will take several months to go through everything.

I have found a distant, distant cousin and made a new friend!

I am trying to locate any newspaper articles for the death of my Uncle William Virgil Curtis born 9-19-1909, Monroe County, TN, died 3-1-1964, Kingston, Roane County, TN. According to some of my relatives he died either in his home in Kingston or at the home of a friend. Some say he died of a heart attack and other say he was shot and his killer never found. I would really appreciate any help in getting copies of any/all articles.

Thanks-

Lee

I recently got the opportunity to meet a man who is related to me through the marriage of my gr gr gr uncle to his gr gr aunt. My sister and I met him and his wife at one of the cemeteries where our ancestors are buried. As we walked through the cemetery, we both shared information about our relatives who are buried there and we both learned so new things. We started corresponding after I saw his posting on one of the Yahoo ancestry group sites. We all had a great time and will be keeping in touch. I hope anyone who gets this chance takes it. You never know what you will find out. One of the things we discussed is the fact that by the time most people start searching for their ancestors almost all of the relatives who would be able to help them are gone. Try to get your children interested early on in genealogy and make sure you pass along any and all info that you have.

All of my mother's family lived in Monroe County, TN. It seems as if I am related to everyone who lived there at least through the 1970s. So why is it so difficult to find the connections? I can only assume that some of my ancestors were suspicious of anyone asking personal questions so they don't appear in the census. Others may have lived way back in the hills so no one came around at census time. Some connections are vague because my grandparents weren't sure how they were related. All of my relatives who would have first hand information are gone. That along with the fact that I didn't grow up there adds to the challenge. I am very greatful for those who have first hand knowledge and those who are willing to do research in the spare time to help me fill in the gaps.